Four new species of meat-eating sponges have been discovered deep in the waters off California, a new study says.

There are about 8,500 species of sponges, a type of simple, mostly stationary invertebrate, and the vast majority passively filter their food on the seafloor. But in the past two decades, scientists have found 7 species of carnivorous sponges that attack prey—and the new discoveries bump that number to 11, said Lonny Lundsten, a biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

A. monticola, a new species of carnivorous sponge, uses hooks to trap tiny crustaceans. Photograph by 2006 MBARI

While studying thousands of hours of video filmed by a robot in waters about 1,800 feet (548 meters) deep, Lundsten became an expert at recognizing unusual life-forms. So when he spotted some unusual-looking sponges, the scientist immediately used the robot to collect live samples to take back to the lab. (See pictures of strange-looking sea creatures.)

Most deep-sea sponges filter feed by slurping bacteria and other single-celled organisms, creating a small current to force as many of these organisms past their body as possible. The cells, known as choanocytes, have long, tiny, rat-like tails that they whip around to create the current.

The strange sponges Lundsten spotted, however, didn’t have choanocytes—they had hooks, just like the seven other known species of carnivorous sponges. The microscopic hooks are located at the ends of tiny hairs that branch out from the tree-like sponges—a very different appearance from the porous sponges you use in the bath.

Lacking a mouth to chew its prey, the sponge instead relies on specialized cells that travel through its body carrying special enzymes, which slowly break down the prey. After several days, all that remains of the crustacean is an empty shell. (See “Antarctic Glass Sponges Live Life in Fast Lane.”)

The four species Lundsten discovered—Asbestopluma monticola, Asbestopluma rickettsi, Cladorhiza caillieti, and Cladorhizaevae—showed up mostly near undersea volcanoes and deep-sea vents in the northeastern Pacific.

Some Like It Hot

The newfound sponges’ harsh habitat may partly explain their killer lifestyle, Lundsten pointed out. Near volcanoes and vents, little life floats by, even the single-celled variety—so having (and constantly beating) choanocyte tails would be a waste of energy. Being carnivorous, on the other hand, means the invertebrates don’t have to expend as much effort to find food.

Comments

Soulvei

San Diego, CA

April 23, 2014, 1:01 am

The more we know about sea life the more we are going to shy away from eating it. I gave up shrimp after I volunteered at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California while I was in secondary school. I saw shrimp eating eating everything that floated to the bottom no matter what it was and became educated by way of being totally grossed out. Finding out that marine arthropods are basically the shop vacs of the ocean forced me to rethink my diet options. I’ll take old, solidified milk slices instead please.

If the ocean is that big, then ocean monsters and mermaids and other creatures can still exist!!

auntiekate

United Kingdom

April 20, 2014, 6:47 pm

Amazing…..I love to hear of new discoveries and there’s certainly a lot to learn yet about our oceans. Totally facinating xx

cristina

Niceville, Florida

April 20, 2014, 1:08 pm

I enjoy reading about the new life you bring to us. Keep up the great work! Happy Easter! Very interesting!

Andrew Booth

UK

April 20, 2014, 10:42 am

I’ve just been into the bathroom and thrown mine out! I think I’ll use a loofah from now on.

SamL

san diego

April 20, 2014, 12:03 am

Don’t pick up everything you see in the sea. Somethings will bite you. Even the slow cute snail can kill you, so leave them alone.

prabir kumar ray

india

April 19, 2014, 8:58 pm

I could enhance my knowledge about sponges .your venture are helping us .So i am grateful to you.so small animal is carnivorous.really amazing!

Bear1000

United States

April 19, 2014, 1:12 pm

Makes you wonder what else is located in the depths of the ocean. Tales of strange creatures in the sea have been told by sailors for centuries and while they may be a bit embellished, I’ve always believed that somewhere in those tales was a grain of truth. Who knows what we might eventually find in that vast world!

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